WEDG

WEDG
City Buffalo, New York
Broadcast area Buffalo, New York
Branding 103-3 The Edge
Frequency 103.3 MHz
First air date 1947 (as WYSL-FM)
Format Modern Rock
ERP 49,000 watts
HAAT 106 meters
Class B
Facility ID 56103
Callsign meaning W EDGe
Former callsigns WYSL-FM (1947-1970)
WPHD-FM (1970-1989)
WUFX (1989-1995)
Owner Cumulus Media
(Radio License Holding CBC, LLC)
Sister stations WGRF, WHTT, WHLD
Webcast Listen Live
Website wedg.com
This article is about the radio station, for the defunct UPN affiliate on Albany-area cable systems see WEDG-TV.

WEDG is a radio station in Buffalo, New York, USA. The station's on air branding is "103.3 The Edge" and broadcasts on 103.3 MHz FM. WEDG has a modern rock format and is best known for its morning radio hosts, "Shredd and Ragan." The station's transmitter is located east of Delaware Park in Buffalo, and studios are located in the city's eastside.

History

103.3 FM signed on in 1947 as WYSL-FM. The station switched calls to WPHD in 1979, when a progressive rock format was added to the overnight programming. This format made WPHD famous, as well as its morning duo, Robert W. Taylor and Harv Moore, which ran from 1978 to 1989.

In 1989, the station changed call signs from WPHD to WUFX, "103.3 The Fox." Taylor and Moore were fired in favor of Shredd and Ragan, with Shredd coming from AM 1400 WXBX. The format lasted about six years. (Both Taylor and Moore would eventually end up on WHTT, which is now WEDG's sister station, on different shifts. Taylor is now retired and Moore went on to stints at WECK and WHLD before doing the same).

On June 23, 1995, the station adopted an alternative rock format and its current call sign and branding.[1] At the time, Toronto radio station CFNY, known as "The Edge", was making inroads in Western New York. Originally an alternative rock station, it shifted to a more active rock direction in 2005 since WBUF flipped from active rock to FM talk, although Radio & Records still referred them as an alternative rock station but Mediabase shifted them to the active rock panel; prior to the R&R panel shift to active rock, they began adding classic rock artists. However, R&R began reporting them as an active rock station in the fall of 2005, making the active rock shift official. From August 2006 to March 2007, R&R reported them again to the alternative panel, but it has since reverted to the active rock panel. In addition, crosstown rival CHTZ-FM of St. Catharines, Ontario has also shifted to active rock from mainstream rock to have similar sounds to WEDG, mainly due to the station switching hands from Standard Radio to the current Astral Media. Recently in 2008, the station began playing more classic rock like The Cult, Van Halen, The Scorpions and U2 along with its current playlist as well as several 90s alternative bands like Weezer, Meat Puppets, and The Black Crowes. (The station is limited in how much "classic" material it can play, so as not to cannbialize the listenership from its sister station, WGRF, a heritage classic rock station in the market.)

Programming

On-air staff

Weekend DJ's include: Eddie Woo, Paul Brenon, Matt Money, Sara

Former staff

Mikey Mike aka Mike Jacobs ( moved to WHTT)

The Shredd and Ragan Show

Shredd and Ragan are the most recognizable and longest-serving on-air personalities at the station and have hosted the 6-10am drivetime shift since 1994. They were moved from mornings after 12 years to make way for Opie and Anthony, a homecoming of sorts for Gregg "Opie" Hughes, who was a former WUFX staffer. After O&A was dropped from the schedule in July 2008, program director "Evil" Jim Kurdziel hosted the morning shift on an interim basis until August 25, 2008, when midday host Rich "Bull" Gaenzler was named the permanent host. The midday shift is now occupied by Kurdziel, who voicetracks the 10-3 block as "James". Kurdziel was also named Program Director of the Year by the radio trade magazine FMQB in 2008. It was announced shortly after the new year that the Shredd and Ragan show was returning to mornings starting January 9, 2012.[3] Bull would switch spots with Shredd and Ragan and go back to the afternoon drive from 3-7pm, as he was before 2006.

WEDG began streaming on the Internet in 2006.

Sports coverage

For years, the station was the co-flagship of the Buffalo Bills Radio Network with sister station WGRF, until their station owners, Cumulus Media, did not renew their contract with the network at the end of 2011. It was announced on January 4, 2012 that The Buffalo Bills Radio Network will be heard on Entercom Communications station WGR 550 AM starting with the 2012-2013 NFL season.[4]

In 2015, WEDG picked up the NFL on Westwood One in a simulcast deal with sister station WHLD.[5]

References

Coordinates: 42°55′34″N 78°50′28″W / 42.926°N 78.841°W / 42.926; -78.841

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